Tool cases or kits



' Aug. 14, 1956- E, H SCHMlD-r 2,758,798

TOOL CASES OR KITS Filed OCT.. 5. 1951 3 Sheets-Shee 1 20 JNVENTOR.

Earl H. Schmidt- ATTORNEY Aug. 14, 1956 E. H. SCHMIDT 2,758,798

TooL CASES 0R KITS Filed Oct. 5. 1951 v 5 Sheets-Shee'. 2

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INVENTOR. Earl H. Schmidi Fue-7 M5529@ ATTORNEY Aug. 14, 1956 E. H. SCHMIDT TOOL CASES OR KITS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5. 1951 INVENTOR.

Earl H. Schmidt Fla-I4 ATTORNEY United States Patent O TOOL CASES OR KITS Earl H. Schmidt, Denver, Colo. Application October 5, 1951, Serial No. 249,834

1 Claim. (Cl. 224-26) The present invention relates to tool cases or kits. It has to do particularly, although not exclusively, with tool cases or kits which are adapted to be supported by and suspended from the apparel belt of a workman, such as a telephone linesman, or repairman. In fact, the kit of the present invention is adapted for use by various types of service men or repair men who, because of the particular kind of work in which they are engaged, must necessarily carry large quantities of small hand tools from job to job.

Various types of such previously known tool cases or kits have been formed of various materials, usually leather, but most of them have been unsatisfactory for use over long periods of time for the reason that the constant removal and particularly the reinsertion or replacement of the various tools, including screw drivers, chisels, knives, etc., into Ithe ytool case or kit, would cut or otherwise dam-age or sever the stitching which held the parts of the kit together, allowing the relatively sharp end of the tool to project downward or outward beyond the bottom of the kit. Often these protruding ends would contact objects and damage them. One particular objection to the previouly known kinds of tool kits resulted from the damage done to the upholstery and other interior trim of motor vehicles operated by 'the maintenance men while they were entering and leaving the vehicles at the various job locations. Often the sharp end of a tool would be exposed without the knowledge of the serviceman and because of it, damage would be done before the wearer of the kit discovered the damaged condition of said kit.

`It is an important object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tool case or kit in which the stitching which serves to hold the component parts of the case or kit together cannot be cut or otherwise damaged by the tools carried in the case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool case or kit having separate socket-like means for supporting individual tooks in the kit, in which these socket-like means are removable and interchangeable at the will of the user of the kit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a kit as aforesaid in which several pockets and several ser-ies of socket-like members for receiving individual tools lare provided.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved means for permitting the quick attachment of the socket-like members to the tool case or kit and likewise the easy removal of said members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved tool case or ki-t which is of relatively simple structure, which has long lasting qualities, |and which provides handy means for receiving and supporting tools of various kinds so as to adaptthe case or kit for use by workmen engaged in various endeavours, wherein various dierent types of tools may be required in accordance with the particular job of the workman; another object being to provide means for receiving a ice tool or tools and frictionally or otherwise holding them in place against accidental release regardless of the position of the tool case or kit, even when it is invented.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claim when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one form of improved tool case or kit embodying the invention, shown carried by and supported from the belt of a workman, a portion only of whose body is illustrated;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of the tool case or kit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an edge elevational view of the case or kit of Fig. 2, being shown partly broken away and partly in section to reveal the relationship of the parts.

-F-ig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail vertical sectional view illustrating means for protecting the stitching for holding together the component parts of the tool case or kit of the preceding views.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a somewhat modied form of tool case or kit embodying the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an edge elevational view of the case or kit of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of the case or ki-t of Figs. 5 and 6, parts being broken away, and other parts shown in section for the purpose of revealing the relationship of said parts;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the socket-like members of the kit for receiving individual tools, shown in association with improved clip means for attaching the socket-like member to a surface or portion of the kit;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the clip-member shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of one of the stud and socket fastening devices or members employed for attaching or securing the clip and socket-like tool-receiving and supporting member in the case or ki-t;

Fig. 1l is a perspective view of a somewhat modified form of :a clip member employed for attaching strips of material to a surface of the case or kit to form individual socket-like tool receiving portions in the strips;

Fig. 12 is a front elevation-al view of two socket-like members formed from a single piece of material and adapted to be held in place upon a surface of the tool case or kit .and separated by a further modified form of clip member embodying the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view through the clip and material of Fig. 12, taken substantially along the line 13-13 of Fig. 12, looking in the direction of the arrowsg Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing another manner in which the stitching may be protected against damage;

Fig. l5 is a perspective View of a separate or independent socket for a single tool, such as a pair of snips or pliers (not shown) adapted to be supported by the belt of the workman, or attached to a portion of his kit, which frictionally holds the tool in place regardless of the position which the Workman assumes with the consequent tilting or shifting of position of the socket.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of a single i pre-shaped friction-applying means for a tool adapted to be held in the kit of the preceding views.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a somewhat modified form of socket-like member having friction means for retaining a tool (not shown) in the socket member;

Fig. 18 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the clip and tool-retaining means of Fig. 17.

Before explaining in detail., the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in. the. accompanying drawings, since the invention. is capablev of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Itr is to be understood also that the phraseology orterminology employed herein. is for the purpose of description and not of limi-tation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

With particular reference to Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, there. is shown in these views one form` of improved tool case or kit embodying the present invention. In Fig. 1, a portion ofthe body of a workman is indicated at 15, said workman. having the. usual apparel belt 16 about his waist which. is used to support the tool case or kit of the present invention. As shown, the tool kit of the present form of the invention is preferably formed from two contiguous layers or pieces of material, such as leather, or the like, comprising an inner layer or body member 17 having belt-receiving slots 18 formed therein and an outer layer or piece. of material 19 which. is. of somewhat smaller size than the body member or inner piece 17. The outer surfacev or piece 19 of the case or kit is stitched along its bottom edge and along its two upright side edges to the inner surface or piece 17, by means of a row of stitching indicated at 20. Thus, the two attached pieces or surfaces ofV material 17 and 19 provide a pocket 21 (see particularly Figs. 3 and 4).

As stated above, previously known tool cases or kits have all had the disadvantage that the stitching for securing the component parts of the kit together has been cut and damagedl so as to allow the lower end portions of tools carried by the kit toY protrude through the bottom of said kit. This condition not only presented danger from the standpoint of possible contact with humans, but alsol presented: a damaging condition because of the likelihood of the exposed sharp end portions of the tools` Coming into` Contact with objectsv which could be damagedv by them, This damage to the stitching was due, of course, to the fact that the stitching was exposed or unprotected and after a. short. time by the constant replacing of tool in the kit, the sharp ends of those tools would penetrate between the inner and outer layers or surfaces of the kit and come into. Contact directly with the Stitching and out or damage it-4 In accordance with my present invention I prevent any Such occurrence or damage by virtue of the fast that I. proyide protective moans between the adjacent Sur-faces of the. lower endV of body member 17 and the` lower sind. 0i the r outer member 19. In this connection, I preferably place a strip of heavy cord, rubber, plastic, or some other suitable material 2:2 between the adjacent surfaces of' the members 17 and 19 before the,l stitching 20 is applied to hold the members together. This stitching 20 penetratesthe material 22 as clearly seen in Fig. 4 of the drawing, and holds it firmly in place, with the bulk of the material, protruding or projecting above the stitching and being disposed at the juncture of the adjacent portions of the members 17 and 19. Thus, the bulk or major portion of the reinforcing material 22y projects into the pocket or space 21 and is in a position tov be engaged byr the lower end portions of tools as they are insertedl into the case or kit.

For the purpose ofguidng the various tools into position to be supported in the case or kit, and for holding them separated or segregated from one another, I have provided a series of socket-like members which may be of different size, shape, and conformation, and which are preferably detachably mounted upon the backing member or layer 17. One such socket-like member 23 is shown separated from the kit in Fig. 8. The clip-like means, shown as a whole at 24, is illustrated separately in Fig. 9 of the drawing, whereas the fastening means or device for attaching the clip and its supported socketlike member 23 upon a portion or layer of the kit is shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. This fastening device, as shown, comprises a male member 25 and a socket or female member 2b. The parts are placed together and then by the application of a tap with a hammer they are telescoped together and flattened out to hold the clip-member 24. in position on the layer 17 of the case or kit, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The clip-like member 24 is substantially V-shaped, the legs of the V each having an opening 24a formed therein for the purpose of receiving the members 25 and 26 of the fastener. In use, the socket-like member 23 is slipped into position between the legs of the clip 24 and the assembled: parts located on. the layer 17 in the positionl desired. A hole is then punched through the material of the backing. plate 17 andthe parts. 25 and 26 ofthe rivet-like fastener are assembled and flattened, as Stated. above. As illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, these Socket-like members 23 may vary in size and shape and in that particular View, five such sockets are provided, each with, .its respective clip member 24. and. fasteningdevice 25 Z6. It is merely necessaryl to pierce the material of the member 17 and to align the holes or openings 24a. in the clip. members with the pierced opening or hole in member 17, whereupon the fastener is inserted and flattened to hold the socket member inv place,v

Thepurposo of varying the size andv shape of the socketlike member 23 is to adapt` the tool case or kit for use by repairrnen, and others, Whose tools vary in. size and shape. Therefore. by providing a supply ofsocket-members, the particular purchaser may choose. those members which willt his purposes best. lf: a change in tools becomes necessary or desirable after a kit has been ted, it is` a simplematter toreloase the fastening members and to replace any Ono 0I all of the socket-members 23 with different. socket-like. members.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is shown. in these views a somewhat modified form of tool case or kif embodying the Present invention., rlhis ease or kitis also adapted to be supported by the users belt, as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, The case or kit of the present form, of the invention comprises preferably three contiguous layers OI Pieces qf'material, such as leather, or the like, comprising an inner surface or body member 27 having belt receiving slots or openings formed therein andV two additional pieces of material, namely an outer piece of material 29 and an intermediate piece of material 36. The ontstane inter-mediato pieces of material 29 and 30 are preferably stitched at' 31 and 31a along their lower edges and their upright Sido. @dass the upper edges of both pieces being. left free to provide separate pockets. The pocket-forming member 30, supports a series or plurality of tool-receiving. and supporting socket-like members 32. Aps` indicated in, Fig. 5 of the drawings, the Socket-like members 32 extend downwardly and into the pocket-like space provided between the front piece or member 2 9 and intermediate member 30. Each of the socket-like members 37,y is attached to the member 30 by a clip-like member 33 which. latter is held thereto by a fastener 34 similar tothe fasteners composed of members 25, 26, best illustrated in ,Fi-gs. 3 andv 10. The clip membersA 33 are generally like the clip membersy 2 4, although they may be of different; Sizes as seen in Fig. 5, and are provided at their upper ends with holes or openings to receive the. fasteners 34. By virtue of the fact' that the socket-like tool-receivingA members 32- project downwardly into the pocket or space below the upper edge 29a of the outer piece, the tools are definitely Vguided into the pocket of the holder and cannot possibly be accidentally positioned outside the outer piece 29.

The intermediate piece or portion provides a second pocket 30a, and a second series of tool-receiving socketlike members may be mounted upon the backing piece 27. As shown, these socket-like members 35 project upwardly above the intermediate layer or piece 30 but their lower ends project downwardly behind this member and into pocket 30a. Each of the socket-like members 35 corresponds to the socket-like members 32 and is held in position upon the surface 27 by means of clips 36 which are similar to the clips 24 and 33, previously described. Each of these clips 36 is provided at its upper end with openings to receive fasteners similar to those shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Thus, the series or row of socket-like members 35 is detachably mounted upon the surface 27 in a manner similar to the mounting of the tool-receiving members 32 carried by portion 30 of the tool case or kit of the present form of the invention.

The lower portions of both pockets are provided with protective means to prevent damage to the stitching 31 and 31a. For this purpose, like strips or tapes formed from cord, rubber, plastic, or some other suitable material 38 and 38a are interposed between the members 27 and 30 and the members 29 and 30, respectively, before they are stitched together. The stitching 31a is caused to penetrate the protective strip 38, whereas the stitching 31 will penetrate strip 38a, thereby holding both strips securely in place. As in the case of the protecting strip 22 shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the bulk or major portions of the strips 38 and 38a are disposed in the spaces adjacent the inner wall 27 and the intermediate wall 30 and the outer wall and said intermediate wall 30, respectively, so that the lower ends of all of the tools which are placed in the kit or tool case will come in contact with these protective pieces of material and cannot come into contact with the actual stitching 31 and 31a. Thus, the life of the tool case or kit of the present form of the invention is also materially increased over conventional cases in the same manner as is the other form of the invention previously described and best illustrated in Figs. l through 4 of the drawings.

It may be desirable, in some instances, to substitute for the individual and independent clip-supported toolreceiving socket members, single bands or strips of material, such as leather, which are held to a portion of the tool case or kit by means of specially formed spaced clips which are located between individual portions of the strip to provide individual or separate sockets for tools. One such arrangement embodying the invention is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings. In this form of the invention, a piece or strip of leather, for example, shown at 40 is shaped to provide two separate tool-receiving socket-like portions 41 and 42, by means of a specially shaped clip member 43, which is held to the strip 41 and a supporting piece, such as a backing member of the tool kit (not shown) by rivet-like fastening means 44, similar to the fastener shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. It will be understood, of course, that a strip or piece of material, such as that shown at 40, of the desired length may be employed so as to provide the desired number of sockets for receiving separate and individual tools. Moreover, by using the proper length of material, the size of these socket members, such as sockets 41 and 42, as well as the shape thereof, may be varied. It is to be noted that the upper inturned flange on member 43 provides metallic or other hard means for protecting the socketlike portions 41 and 42 when a tool is inserted thereinto by the workman.

To assist in varying the shape or conformation of the sockets, reference being had to Fig. 11 of the drawings, a special type of clip member, such as the tapered platelike member 45 of this gure may be employed. It will be understood that after a piece, similar to piece 41, has been shaped to provide the desired socket formation, the plate-like member 45 is applied to it and secured to the supporting member, such as a backing sheetv (not shownj, by passing one of the rivet-like fasteners of Fig. 10 through the opening 45a formed in plate 45. Any number of these plates 45 may be employed, the number being determined by the number of sockets which it is desired to form from the strip of material 40. By using a series of the plate-like fasteners 45, it will be understood that the individual spaced socket members will each diverge toward its lower end and converge toward its upper end.

With particular reference to Fig. 14 of the drawings, there is shown in thi-s view a somewhat modiiied form of means for protecting the threads which hold the parts of the kit together. As shown, the threads 20a are first protected by the usual protecting strip 22a which may be similar to the strip 22 in Fig. 4, and additionally by a ilap or tongue 17b which may be formed by slitting the leather of the backing piece 17a. A pocket 21a is provided between the back wall 17a and the front wall 19a. If desired, however, in lieu of the integral flap or strip member 17h, a separate strip of leather may be attached to theV backing member 17a in any suitable manner, as by means of rivets. This extra protection for the threads 20a is important where the kit is used to carry a large number of relatively sharp or otherwise pointed tools.

ln Fig. 15 -of the drawings there is shown an independent socket member, shown as a whole at 5t), provided for the purpose of supporting a single tool. The member 50 is provided with an upward extension having a front portion 51 and a back portion 52 which are preferably secured together to provide a loop adapted to be slipped over the belt of the workman. The socket portion 53 has upon its back wall a preferably pre-formed clip or member 54 which is preferably made from spring metal or any 'other suitable material that will take and maintain a given shape. The clip-like member 54 is secured to the socket by a rivet 55 which also serves to secure the parts 51 and S2 together to provide the belt-receiving loop. lf desirable, the cliplike member 54 may be supplied in at form so that the person purchasing the socket member or tool case can shape the clip to suit his own convenience.

Another adaptation of a single and preferably freelshaped clip member is indicated in 16, wherein a clip member 56 having an outward bulge 57 is :secured by means of a suitable rivet 58 to the face of the backing piece 17a of a tool kit. It is intended that this clip-like member be used in connection with any suitable `socket member formed from non-metallic material, such as leather, see, for example, the socket member 23 of the preceding views and 35a of Fig. 17.

In Figs. l7 and 18 there is shown a somewhat modified form of clip and socket means for use in connection with a kit like those of the preceding views of the drawings. As shown, a U-shaped clip member 24a, similar to member 24 of Fig. 9, is provided with openings at its upper end and is slipped over a socket member 35a, which may be similar to socket member 23 of Fig. 3 of the drawings, after which a hole is punched in the back wall -or member 27a of the tool case or kit, which kit may be similar to that shown in Fig. 6. To provide means for frictionally maintaining a tool in position in the socket 35a against any possibility of accidental displacement, an additional clip member or plate 60 is provided. This plate-like member may be formed from spring metal or from any other suitable material which will take and maintain its shape after being shaped, and has an opening or aperture 61 adjacent its upper end. The member 6G, as shown, is bowed outwardly so that when a tool is inserted between it and the outer wall of ysocket member 35a, it will be held in position even though a workman might have to assume a prone position in doing his job or might even have to have his head and torso at a lower level than his legs and feet. No matter what position the workman assumes, there i-s no chance for a tool becoming accidentally dislodged or displaced from socket 35a. The same separable rivet member, comprising male member 25a and female member 26a are passed through the aligned openings 24e in they clip member 24a, and 61 in thebowed plate-member` 60 to` secure the. parts together as clearly seen in. Fig. 17. The several parts of the structure of Fig. 1-7 arek shown, in separated or exploded condition in Fig. 18. As. seen in this figure, the outer portion of the substantially LJ-shaped clip member 24a is provided with a rib or projecting portion 24g. This rib or projecting portion is adapted toco.- operate with a similar rib or projecting portion 60ct formed on the bowed plate-like member 61).A This provides a relatively neat arrangement and fit for the parts and by making the U-shaped clip member as shown and the plate member 60 as shown, it is a simple matter to apply the plate 60 to the clip member 24 when the two` are attached to the tool case to support socket 35a. If friction means for holding the tool in place are not desirable, the clip member tlmay be eliminated. The broken lines. in Fig. 17 of the drawing indicate the manner in which the plate member 60 may be Shaped or formed to the convenienceof use of the particular `socket member 35 and the particular tool which it is to accommodate.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided several different forms of improved tool case or kit embodying the present invention and it will also be seen that by simply removing and replacing socket members a tool kit may be formed which suits or ts the needs of the individual using the kit. Since repairmen and maintenance men in different fields of endeavour are required to carry different types of tools for performing their work, the. present invention affords a very ne solution to their problem insofar as portable tool cases and kits is concerned. The purchaser of a tool kit embodying the present invention may choose the type of socket members and the number of them which he needs for his immediate purposes, but if conditions change during the use of the kit, it is a simple matter for him to, remedy the situation by rearranging and/ or `substituting new andv different sockets for those originally installed. The improved tool case or kit of this invention thus provides for universal use among workmen who are required to carry on their persons a number of different tools to perform their work.

By virtue of my foregoing invention =of a tool kit or case having individual sockets or pockets for individual tools, it is a simple matter for the owner or carrier of the kit, or the superintendent or foreman on the job, to detect a missing tool or tools. This is a great improvement over bulk tool kits or boxes heretofore used, in which a number o f tool-s were grouped together, requiring a careful check or inventory of all of the 'tools to` detect a missing tool or tools.

Moreover, by virtue. of the use of the extra reinforcing or thread-protecting means 17b `shown in Fig. 14 Iof the drawings, the threads, such as threads 20a, are fully protected` against damage when the tool case or kit contains specially shapedl tools, such as those without conventional Shanks.

Having thus, described my invention whatI claim is:

In a kit for tools having three contiguous layer-s of material comprising inner, outer and intermediate surfaces of the kit and joinedy by lines of stitching, of a pair of protective strips of wear-resistant material disposed between and fitted against the inner and intermediate surfaces and the intermediate and outer surfaces adjoining the lines of stitching in positions to prevent penetration of tools carried in the kit into contact with said lines of stitching, a row of removable and interchangeable tool-receiving sockets carried by the inner layer, a second row of removable and interchangeable tool-receiving sockets. carried by the intermediate layer, and separable rivet-like fastening devices for mounting the individual sockets of the rows in position upon the kit, said inner layer having means cooperable with a garment belt for supporting the kit in Suspended condition on they body of the wearer.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,770 Robinson June 23, 1891 986,273 Eloesser Mar. 7, 1911 1,061,886 Tooth May 13, 1913 1,081,262 Barrett Dec. 9, 1913 1,094,009 Parkhurst Apr. 21, 1914 1,153,105 OConnor Sept. 7, 1915 1,434,350 Collins Oct. 31, 1922 1,603,861 Mundis Oct; 19, 1926 1,675,072 Watermon June 26, 1928 2,340,390 Kitto Feb. l, 1944 2,441,415 Hoi'shman May 11, 1948 2,461,390 Montague Feb. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,836k Sweden Apr. 17, 1945 

